Chapter 211: Stirring the Pot
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 211: Stirring the Pot
Time for some proper re-education.
As I pointed the Etiquette Infuser at them, the man who appeared to be the leader let out a smirk.
"It seems you still don't understand the situation."
"You think I'm bluffing? Does Yggdrasil look like a joke to you? You bastards always talk about how great Yggdrasil is, but then you act like dismissive pricks every time we meet as enemies. You won't snap out of it until you've been thrashed."
Once this is over, you'd better all line up on your knees and get ready to have your cheeks stung.
As I took a stance, preparing to throw the first punch, the man smirked again and snapped his fingers.
Peeeee-ing—!
Mana flowed along the floor, and a magic circle formed beneath my feet.
"Whoa—!"
I reacted quickly, trying to leap out of the way, but my head slammed into something, and I tumbled backward.
What the hell is this?
A translucent, yellowish membrane in the shape of a cube was surrounding me.
Is this some kind of protective barrier?
The quality is quite high. It’s a one-way barrier; it’s facing inward to block me, meaning I can’t pass through, but those outside can attack me at will.
"You're going to pin me down and just pelt me from a distance? Seems like a waste of mana."
"You're awfully cocky just because you trust that mana barrier of yours."
"...You guys must have done a lot of research on me. Did you finally finish reading the files Akane sent? Then didn't you read the part where every bastard who messed with me ended up regretting it?"
In a game, an M-type HP tank might be an invincible build, but that doesn't mean they're impossible to deal with in reality.
Since my combat style is based on the mana barrier, they can just trap me like this and refuse to engage.
That’s why Frey taught me various ways to force the opponent to attack me.
"Just like the reports said—talkative and vulgar."
"No matter how vulgar I am, I couldn't possibly match your old farts. So, what is this? You trap me and that's it? Just trying to stall for time? Is there somewhere I’m not supposed to be right now?"
"You overestimate yourself. You die here."
I guess they aren't planning to hit somewhere else.
But how do they plan on killing me?
My question was answered the moment they brought out a hose.
Chwaaaaaaa—!
A stream of water blasted out from the hose, passing right through the barrier and into the interior.
Since things can't go from the inside out, the water began to pool, and my shoes started getting soaked.
"You really put some thought into this. Drowning? That’s just pathetic."
"It’s a fitting death for someone like you. We know you aren't very good with other types of magic. We heard your skills are so messy it’s a mystery how you even got into Yggdrasil."
Is that so?
I’m pretty sure I showed those kids how quickly I could master magic.
Maybe it’s because I lacked basic knowledge and often had to ask what common spells were.
And Akane, I’m disappointed. My magic skills are messy?
"To think you haven't even mastered a basic spell like Underwater Breathing. You're a disgrace to mages."
"I haven't mastered Underwater Breathing?"
"..."
No, no, don't look at me like that. It's not some grand plot twist.
It's just that I've learned so many spells lately that I'm getting confused myself.
Did I learn a breathing spell or not? I can't quite remember.
Was it this one?
I casually swung the Etiquette Infuser and activated a spell.
"...!"
"Oh, it works. Hey, thanks. I almost forgot, but you reminded me."
I grinned at their bewildered faces.
But the water was already up to my calves. These are specially processed pants; you aren't supposed to water-wash them.
I shrugged and walked over to the yellow membrane, placing my hand on it.
Hmm, I don't know the principle, but gas and mana seem to pass through.
Since science can't explain it, I guess it's magic.
"There's no need to panic. He can't attack unless he's hit anyway."
"You really did your homework."
But your updates are a bit slow.
Do you have any idea how many spells Frey and her team hammered into me?
While others master one or two a month, I was learning three a day.
I nodded and manifested white swords beyond the yellow membrane.
Keeping my hand on the barrier as I walked sideways, a row of white swords fixed in mid-air was created one after another.
As I continued walking along the perimeter, the white swords lined up on all four sides looked quite impressive.
This was Greyhound Sunwoo’s original magic.
"Listen up, kids. This is high-level magic created from seven different magical theories: three types of illusion magic, two unique 'fixing' spells, and one each from the wind and telekinesis categories. Pretty sick, right?"
"...Prepare for defense!"
As they quickly deployed shields and grew wary of me, massive tree roots burst through the walls behind them, covering the warehouse.
This was Natsume’s original magic.
It involved rapidly growing seeds I’d scattered before entering, combined with enlargement and attribute reinforcement—another complex spell involving as many theories as Sunwoo’s.
"No need to be scared. Just as you trapped me, I’ve trapped you."
My basic combat style might be an M-type HP tank, but that doesn't mean I can't use other methods.
"Brace for impact!"
The man shouted as the white swords began to move.
I’d always thought about using the Flying Sword Technique while reading martial arts novels.
Even if these were made of magic instead of real steel, they looked cool enough.
Dozens of swords swirled and ravaged the area like a school of fish in a storm.
Some were shattered by counterattacks, and others vanished against shields, but so what? I could just make more.
The warehouse was a chaotic mess of barked orders, screams, explosions, and frantic footsteps, but standing in the center, I was the picture of peace.
So this is why the masters only use the Flying Sword Technique.
Auto-hunting is the best.
No need to chase people around or waste stamina on swordplay.
Physical labor is for commoners; a gentleman should stay still and act dignified.
Since I wasn't taking any hits, I had mana barrier to spare. I used Melting to shape my mana barrier into a chair and sat down with my legs crossed.
Every time I use it, I realize there are few spells with worse cost-efficiency than Melting.
It doesn't use much mana, but it whittles away the mana barrier—a mage's lifeline. No one but me could afford such a luxury.
Well, a truly skilled mage would have just summoned something to sit on.
Regardless, while I was taking it easy, the swarm of swords continued to assault the group.
They seemed to have some skill, but they clearly lacked real combat experience.
The moment a situation deviated even slightly from their expectations, they couldn't even use half their strength and were left helpless.
It helped that Sunwoo’s magic was exceptionally aggressive.
"Guh—!"
"Oh, we have a guest? Welcome."
A woman, trying to block a white sword, was pushed back by the impact and tumbled right through the barrier into my space.
The woman, unable to even think about standing up, looked up at my smiling face and then frantically scrambled toward the yellow membrane.
"...O-Open it!!"
You came in of your own accord, but leaving is a different story.
Though I’m in the same boat.
Let’s have a deep, intimate discussion about etiquette, shall we?
I approached her with the Etiquette Infuser resting on my shoulder. The woman, clinging to the barrier and wailing, looked at me with a face full of terror.
"Since ancient times, this has always been the answer."
I swung the Etiquette Infuser with all my might, striking her in the gut.
Because the space inside the cube was small, she bounced around like a billiard ball before hitting the floor.
She scrambled up and drew a sword, but I swatted it away with the Etiquette Infuser and stepped on her, pinning her into the water.
"Can't you guys use Underwater Breathing? I thought you said it was a disgrace for a mage not to?"
The woman struggled in the water, but she couldn't push back against my leg.
I’m sure she knows the spell. She’s just so inexperienced that she’s panicked.
"Let Rosaria go!!"
"So many guests today."
Seeing a man charging recklessly at me, I kept the woman pinned and gripped the Etiquette Infuser with both hands.
With a powerful swing, I snapped the man's sword and slammed the weapon into his head.
The momentum of his charge met the force of the Etiquette Infuser; his waist snapped back, he spun three times in the air, and then he crashed into the water.
"Cough—haaa, haaa, ack, cough—haaaa..."
When I lifted my foot, the woman desperately raised her upper body, gasping for air and retching.
Had enough air? Then back you go.
I stepped on her chest and shoved her back under.
I slammed the Etiquette Infuser into the back of the head of the man who was trying to get up. Just as I was looking down at the struggling woman, the water suddenly began to drain.
"So, you're done keeping me trapped?"
"You piece of trash. Taking hostages..."
"The guy who tried to gank me is blaming others the moment things go south. And hostages? She could just use a breathing spell. What kind of hostage is that? You can't even do that? Are you a disgrace to mages?"
the man who looked like the leader gnashed his teeth at me.
To drop the barrier over something like this... they must be very close.
Could you maybe use some of that affection on Akane?
I wanted to kill them all, but I couldn't.
Like it or not, they were part of the organization, and their deaths would weigh on Akane.
I told her I’d save the organization and to trust me; I couldn't be the one to kill them.
Therefore, you bastards are just going to get a beating.
Now that the barrier was gone, I didn't wait. I lunged at them.
*
Thirty minutes later.
It took some time because I was fighting without killing, but I’d taken down most of them, with only a few left standing.
"Your mana barrier is broken, isn't it? Back off, you prick."
"Shut up! I won't give—"
Slap!
A crisp slap to the face sent the defiant man's head spinning.
"You son of a—"
Slap!
The sound was refreshing.
The man, held by his collar, looked dazed, his cheek stinging.
You haven't been hit much without a mana barrier, have you? You’d need real combat experience to know what that feels like.
Or you’d have to do crazy training like Yukina, breaking your own barrier.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
As I continued to slap him, his cheek began to swell.
Feeling real pain without the protection of mana, the man who had been resisting so fiercely now curled into a ball, covering his head.
"Go over there."
"..."
Slap!
"Answer me."
"U-Understood—"
Slap!
"Don't use informal speech with me, you bastard."
"I-I'm sorry."
"Go sit over there and kneel. Now."
When I let go of his collar, the boy scrambled over to sit next to the others who were already kneeling.
I’d swept through them all, breaking their mana barriers one by one with slaps and instilling some 'etiquette' into each of them.
So fragile.
They act so tough because they rely on their mana barriers; they've never felt real pain.
In my past life, I knew the terror of violence all too well—getting slapped by thugs on the street, beaten by the class bullies, getting kicked in the shins by my team leader...
Since these kids lacked real-world experience, the pain of actual violence had completely broken their spirits.
I approached a girl who was still holding out.
"Do you want to get hit before you go? Or just go?"
"I will never submit to—"
Slap!
"I-I'll go... I'll go, okay? I'm going."
Slap!
I couldn't really slap her again since she said she was going, so I gave her a hard smack on her rear, leaving a handprint, and told her to get moving.
When I turned my gaze to the remaining few, they took the hint and quietly went to kneel.
Finally, everything was settled.
Since there were no chairs, I dragged over a crate from the corner and sat down.
"Guys, what were you thinking coming here? You're all so young."
"I'm older than y... you..."
The etiquette training via slapping must have worked; the boy who started to snap back immediately lowered his eyes when he met my gaze.
"Forget age. Don't you feel bad for Akane?"
"..."
"Akane is running herself ragged trying to save the organization. And you guys? Her brothers? Sisters? Peers? All you're doing is stabbing her in the back."
"You're the one who bewitched Akane!"
A woman sitting in the middle stood up and glared at me.
To still be defiant after the etiquette lesson... she must really care about Akane.
"Who told you that?"
"Why? If I tell you, are you going to go do the same thing to them?"
"Yeah, I am. You think I won't?"
"..."
The blonde woman fell silent, her expression twisting.
Time to start sowing some generational conflict.
Divide and conquer is the basic rule of stirring the pot.
"But you know what? I only moved because Akane asked me to save the organization."
"..."
"Greyhound? Graham? Francesca Hospital? Yeah, all of that is connected to me. That's why Akane asked me. To use what I have to save the organization. Is that so wrong?"
Of course, I’m also stopping your organization from targeting Yggdrasil, but there’s no need to mention that.
I only needed to tell them things that favored me and painted Akane as a good girl who loved the organization and was working her heart out.
"It's different from what you heard, isn't it?"
"Lies... You're just using Akane to swallow our clan!"
Hearing her say 'clan,' she must be an Earthbound Person like Akane.
No wonder they're close.
"You can think it's a lie if you want. But is the Akane you know the kind of person who would betray the organization?"
"..."
"Maybe she was tricked by me. It's natural to have those doubts. But you know..."
I let out a smirk as I looked at the girl.
"On what basis are you doubting me? Is this a doubt that came from your own thoughts after seeing and hearing things for yourself?"
"..."
"Or is it just because the people above you told you I’m a bad guy? Just for that one reason?"
The girl remained silent.
The others were glancing at each other; it seemed I’d given them something to think about.
There was no point in bluntly saying the old farts at the top were the problem; that would only cause a backlash.
I’d already gained some favor through my support, so I just needed to keep planting small seeds of doubt.
When these young people organize their thoughts and ask questions out of genuine concern, the elders will likely get angry or dismiss them, claiming their authority is being challenged.
Surely there are wise elders in the organization? Of course, but unfortunately, wisdom is a rare commodity.
One or two wise people can't answer everyone, and the number of people who get scolded or insulted for asking the unwise majority will only grow.
That’s how friction and factions are built, layer by layer.
As the groups grow, they’ll start monitoring and irritating each other. Please, fight your hearts out.
"There's a difference between trust and blind faith. You guys are going to lead the organization someday, right? You should judge and decide for yourselves, not just follow what others say."
I could see them wavering at the suggestion that they should decide for themselves.
Yes, what a cool and fluttering thought, isn't it?
Though it’s an incredibly annoying thing to hear for someone who actually has to manage an organization.
Good, this should be enough.
"Now, get lost. Sorry for hitting you."
"...You're letting us go?"
"I have to. I'm only human, so I got angry and hit you because you were trying to kill me. But you're Akane's friends. How could I do anything truly bad to you?"
At those last words, the look in their eyes changed.
I saw wavering gazes, touched reactions, and even some who looked away in shame for having attacked me.
Yes, how could I kill you?
You need to go back to the organization and do a great job of stirring the pot for me.